Food at Springvale Court Care Home
It is essential to our catering team here at Springvale Court that we serve nourishing and delicious food, as well as prepare meals that meet the dietary requirement of those living at the home. Our experienced chefs also make sure that every meal reflects on each individual's likes and dislikes in order to provide a menu that appeals to everyone. Throughout the day, we offer snacks such as home-baked biscuits and cakes, as everybody loves freshly-baked food! Please see below for a sample of our menu:
Chris Murray
Hello, my name is Chris. I have worked at Springvale Court since September 2022. I began as a kitchen assistant with very little experience of the cooking side but I found this was something I was really interested in. I have since completed my NVQ level 2 in Commis Chef, and I am very proud to say I am now Head Chef since 2025, progressing from the second chef role.
I enjoy getting to know residents and their families and catering to different diets, likes and dislikes. My job can be challenging, but with a good team supporting me, I find I am really enjoying being Second Chef.
Dietary requirements
For residents who have difficulties swallowing, we modify the menu of the day so that the dishes are more palatable for them. To support our chefs in producing these dishes, our hospitality team and our Chef Academy organise theory and practical workshops. The chefs work with the chef trainer to prepare tasty, modified meals safely and according to IDDSI frame work. This encourages residents to eat and enjoy their food. All our chefs have been trained in IDDSI food descriptors.
Attracting top chefs
Our chefs are recruited on the basis of an interview with the regional hospitality support team and the manager of the home. Selection also involves a practical element, where potential chefs are asked to cook for and meet a panel of people living in the home. Chefs take their job extremely seriously and the annual Barchester Chef Competition sees our chefs battle it out in regional heats and then at a national final for the accolade of 'Barchester's Chef of the Year'.
